The Phoenix of the Empire

[Taneth]

Throughout human history, we have witnessed the rise and fall of empires - some enlightened, some aggressive. But in each case, they have always been replaced with another. The fall of the Goa'uld Empire is no exception.

Our galaxy once had a clear sense of order, one now suddenly gone. It only makes sense that some of the less... popular... alternatives would try sprouting roots. The Trust, the Lucian Alliance, the Replicators, the Ori, the Protectorate... the Tau'ri. Everyone wants their piece of the pie, their own territory to control.

This vision usually doesn't involve sharing with like-minded parties. But what if their motivation was something more sinister than a simple desire for personal power?

[Taneth]

It's the middle of the night. A man lays in bed unsleeping. He decides to go for a walk. The moons are out in full, so there's plenty of light. Exiting his home, he pulls his coat closed and heads for the woods, away from the village.
It was on his way back, however, that a horrible sight befell him. At first it wasn't clear, but the screams were. He knew the sound, from the time the false gods ruled here, of the torture stick. And their voices - somehow darker sounding, as one by one they cleared every house and led their occupants to join the crowd gathering, crying and shivering at the stargate - were definately Goa'uld.
The man kept out of sight. Intervening at this point was not an option, he would only be inviting himself to join them. No. He waited and watched. The leader of the group - there were at least six of them - dialled the gate, and in a matter of minutes everyone was through and gone.
Not believing his eyes, he checked the village. House after house was empty. It was dawn by the time he concluded that there was no-one left. Hastily, he headed for the larger city on the other side of the forest...

[Taneth]

The villagers were all gathered in the large dungeon of a stone castle. All of them had their hands tied and wore only the light clothing they slept in. They were guarded by two of their kidnappers, both armed with strange weapons that no-one seemed willing to test.
The doors opened, and the Goa'uld leader marched in, ordering everyone to their knees. He had a satisfied smile as he surveyed the crowd. His human host was an old man, with white hair, bright green eyes, and a weathered face. He approached and stared down at another, a young man in his twenties, a woman huddled against him as if for protection.
"Rise," his voice creaked. The distinct echo of the Goa'uld voice over what seemed to be a deep husky whisper. As the young man stood, the leader spoke again, "I'm surprised to find you among these slaves. Explain yourself."
"I don't know what you're talking about," the young man replied.
"Don't play games. I know a fellow Goa'uld when I see one."
The woman who was beside him spoke, "You're one of them? We've been married for two years!"
"I have no idea who these people are!" he replied.
The leader chucked at this denial. "Oh, don't lie to the lady, she's about to die," he said, emphasising the statement with a glow of his eyes. A bright green glow.
At that statement, the woman gasped, but kept quiet. But it was enough for her husband to finally show his Goa'uld side. His eyes glowed white, his voice deep and hateful. "There was a time when your kind would fear us."
"Well then, I'm proud to be the one to set things right." The leader retorted.

[Taneth]

The leader looked his prisoner up and down before he spoke again. "I like your host. Strong. Healthy."
"You wouldn't. He's mine."
"We'll see about that!" The leader grabbed the other Goa'uld's neck and pulled him close. His symbiote jumped out of his mouth and into the other, and they both collapsed, the younger one screaming in pain.
The other symbiote managed to escape, squealing, bite markes all along its tail, four glowing red eyes staring back at its previous habitat, glancing over at the wide-eyed woman, then crawling towards the discarded old man. Before it could get that far, however, it was scooped up in a human hand.
"Not so fast, little one," came another dark, echoing voice. The young man who had been his host was now the leader of his enemy, and had broken his bonds. His brown eyes had also turned green. "Stop your squirming and you may live to be my pet," he added, a green glow in his eyes to drive the point home.

[Taneth]

As the leader returned to his feet, he glanced down at the woman and smiled. "I have just the one for you."
There was a glass tank against the wall of the dungeon, and he headed there. He placed the red-eyed symbiote in the water and watched its reaction as reality struck. There were multiple points of light, indicating many eyes of many Goa'uld symbiotes, but they were all green. It backed away into a corner as the others edged closer, fangs extended.
Then there was a boom as the leader's hand hit the water, and they all turned away. He chose carefully, and finally picked out the one he wanted. He returned to the woman. "You get to go first. Congratulations."
The symbiote's green eyes glowed brightly in anticipation of finally being free of the water.
"Nyet. Nyet!" she screamed, trying to back away, but couldn't get far on her knees with her hands trapped behind her back. "NYET!"
The symbiote hissed loudly and lunged at her, quickly burrowing into her neck.

[Taneth]

It took only a few seconds before the woman's eyes began to change colour, then glowed green for a moment. She snapped the ropes encircling her wrists, then stood before her leader.
"Announce yourself," he ordered.
"I am Pandora. I serve the Pharaoh." she announced, in her own deep, echoing voice.
The leader smiled. "As you should. Finish the rest of them. Anyone not suitable for blending, put them to work in the mine."
"As you wish, my lord." she replied, and he left. As she stood over the symbiote tank, she noticed the red glowing eyes within, staring up at her. She glowed her own in response, and grabbed one of the green-eyed symbiotes instead.

[Taneth]

A man bursts out of the a forest, having avoided the trail in case he was followed. A large city built of stone stood before him. He was parched. Hungry. Exhausted. Covered in cuts and bruises, a result following the trail would not have landed. Not far to go now. He continued to jog, puffing and wheezing, toward the gate.
Once there, he leaned on the wall for support and explained the situation to the watchman. Well... tried to. "Help. They came. Took them."
"Easy, friend. Here," he handed him a canteen, "drink this."
He waited as the man finished off the water. "It was the Goa'uld. In the south village."
The stargate village, the place where off-world traders stop to do business. "Took who?" the watchman asked.
"Everyone! They're gone. All of them. Into the stargate." The man was having trouble standing. "I think I remember the address. You have to come back with me. Help me." He collapsed.
"The only place you're going is the healery, come on." The watchman signalled to open the gate, and dragged the man inside.

[Taneth]

The healer stood by the man that the watchman had brought in and placed on a table. She was waving a Goa'uld healing device over him for a short time before deactivating it. "His injuries were extremely minor, mostly it was just fatigue. He's resting at the moment."
The watchman nodded. "He said the Goa'uld attacked the village, Asya. We've sent a scout to investigate, but is there any validity to his claim?" he asked.
"I wouldn't know, I've been out of contact for quite some time. But there are certain groups who... let's just say I wouldn't put it past them."
"You mean like gangs?"
"Gangs, clans, individuals who won't let go of the past. I know what you're thinking, but I'm sorry, I don't have an answer for you."
The watchman sighed. "Very well. I'll be back to check on him once our scout returns."
Asya nodded as he turned to leave.


The scout exited the woods, following the path towards the village. Expecting to see it empty as described, he was surprised to find regular activity. Shops were open, traders were coming and going through the stargate... He caught the attention of a shopkeeper as he looked around. "First time down this way?"
"Actually, no. But I was told this entire place was deserted."
The shopkeeper looked confused. "Always people here. Who told you this?"
"That's..." he stopped and glanced around. A lot of people were watching him, it was creepy. "... confidential. If you don't mind my asking, where have the children gone?"
"We had an illness outbreak, they're staying with friends on another planet."
"I see. We do have a skilled healer in town, I could send for her."
"Thank you, but we're fine."
They were still watching. The scout nodded, and said "Thank you for your time," then made his way back to the city as quickly as discretion would allow.

::Double post this time, trying to speed it up

[Taneth]

"You have something to show me, Tarik?" The leader asked.
The other Goa'uld nodded excitedly, "Yes, my lord, over here," he indicated a monitor. "I've figured out how the pain stick works. The charge actually carries a frequency that converts adrenalin into lumanine."
The leader seemed unimpressed.
"Well, but it's red lumanine. I reconfigured it, look." He took his prototype over to a prisoner chained to the wall.
"AAAAAAAAAH" the prisoner thrashed about until the weapon was pulled away.
Tarik was grinning. "I made it green! It's..."
"Not as effective." the leader interrupted.
"Well, no, I had to dial it down a bit, my other test subjects were dying too quickly."
"Hm." the leader nodded. "Neat, though. I like it, we've got our own signature now."
"Yeah, isn't it?"
"STOP WASTING TIME!" He glowed his eyes at his underling. "There is a Tok'ra base in the Chogadesh system. I want the formula to the symbiote poison."
Tarik cowered away and nodded "Yes, my lord."
"On your way!"
"Yes my lord." Tarik turned and hurried out the door.
The leader picked up the prototype that he left behind, returned it to regular setting, and tried it out on the test subject. The green light coming from the victim's face was... pleasing.

[Taneth]

"And every single one of them had green eyes. I don't know, but something about that place was just telling me to get out of there," the scout explained.
Asya appeared frightened. "Well I'm glad you did, because if I'm right, we're in big trouble."
"Why?" asked the Sergent of the guards.
"Hilk'sha, demons, gods of the underworld, whatever you want to call them. They're the Green-Eyed Goa'uld. I thought they were extinct. You need to go and get help. If they really are Green-Eyed Goa'ulds, they would kill me on sight. Have someone they wouldn't recognise take a cart; just stroll in, dial the gate, and leave."
"What would they be doing here?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. They may be trying to set up a base or an outpost. You have no idea how dangerous these people are. The Green-Eyed Goa'ulds make the Red-Eyed Goa'ulds look like... schoolyard bullies. They have no regard for human life, even their own hosts."
"If you know so much about them..."
"I don't. Stories, nothing more. But I do know that even in their hosts, their eyes are always green."

[Taneth]

=A Tok'ra base somewhere - mess hall=
Two Tok'ra were meeting for lunch, and to discuss the current state of local affairs, as you do.
"So who's this Tarik I hear mention of?"
"Oh, him. He's a new recruit. Apparently was an underling of Ares before his defeat, and then ran off on his own for a while. Guy creeps me out though."
"Really? Who vouched for him?"
"Uh... Malcon and Tain."
"Weren't they killed on their last mission?"
"Yeah, but Tain sent the message before that happened. I dunno, maybe it's just the spooky green eyes, but the moment he introduced himself I got chills. I think their hosts might be related, there's some resemblance."
Just then an alert sounded.

=earlier...=
"Tok'ra cree!" Tarik growled, getting Tain's attention in the deserted hall.
"Who are you?" Tain demanded, reaching for his weapon.
Tarik replied with a green glow of his eyes and fired his own weapon. Several bolts of blue energy struck his target in a second, and he was immobilised. "I'm your replacement."

After Tarik stole Tain's host, he retrieved his weapon and vaporised the old one. He then grabbed the stunned symbiote and ripped its head off, taking a bite out of its thorax and discarding the remains. He approached a reflective surface and examined his new face and the entry wound. Nothing a few minutes in a sarcophagus won't fix, and he'll have to make some alterations to not be recognised. But first, he recorded a message allowing himself into the base before his new eyes turned green.

=back at the base=
"Someone has accessed a restricted section of the central database. There is an unauthorised transmission in progress."
"Where?"
"Follow me. Science lab 2."

...

"Stop what you're doing and turn around!"
Tarik laughed. "You people are so slow."
"You didn't really expect to get away from here did you?"
"Of course. Once I'm done with you, I'll just walk out like I walked in."
"The whole base is on alert. You won't be able to escape. Green-Eyed Goa'ulds cannot be Tok'ra."
"Oh why not? We have the same enemy."
"Not here. I'm with Ra on this one" The first Tok'ra fired his Zat'nik'atel and knocked him to the ground.
"You're too late! We have what we want!" Tarik fired his own weapon back. It's a Zat-Cree, a silent, low powered, rapid firing version of the Zat'nik'atel that managed to get five shots on the first Tok'ra and three on the other, before the symbiote made a jump for its life out the back of Malcon's neck, followed immediately by the other Tok'ra killing him.

Tarik attempted to hide as he approached, but the symbiont's glowing eyes gave it away. When he pointed the weapon, Tarik hissed loudly in one final show of aggression, and was then hit with a second shot.

The crystal on the console stopped blinking and faded to clear. This was followed by the sound of an energy buildup. "No. RUN!" the Tok'ra shouted to his injured companion.

=ground level=
The grass above the tunnels looked like any other plain, but that was about to change. It swelled into a low dome, the ground cracked and through an expulsion of dust and smoke, collapsed into a crater. Inside, three chambers and two corridors were completely caved in. But the transmission had been sent. The Green-Eyed Goa'uld now had the formula for the symbiote poison.


::TAG - SGC, they're going to need some help::

[Taneth]

He smiled. The chemical he had made rendered the poison completely inert. Even variants that killed Goa'uld cells in the same way were also neutralised. He looked up from the microscope and recorded the final formula. He ran it through the synthesiser, and filled a small vial.

Just then, Pandora entered the room. "My Lord, the fourth sector has been secured. There is word of a Red living there, so far he has eluded us."
"Very good. Keep watch, and check the eyes of anyone leaving the planet."
"I've already given the order."
"Then you may remain here, I'm about to test the antidote." He approached the small fish tank in the corner of the lab. The red-eyed symbiont he had captured earlier was just hovering, and being generally inactive. It stirred when the water was disturbed by the addition of the yellowish liquid. Then there was another container. "This water has been infused with every variant of the symbiote poison I could come up with, each one strong enough to kill my pet." He also retrieved a healing device that had a coiled cable trailing from a crack in the side to somewhere below the table. "Hold your breath a moment." He opened the jar, and held it over the tank.

The symbiote showed first fear, then panic, and it swam away to the corners of the tank trying to escape the water that would soon be contaminated with a toxin so deadly even a Goa'uld couldn't filter it.
But as the poisoned water is poured in, nothing happens. The symbiote doesn't die. The two spectators stepped back as the symbiote starts to calm down. The leader laughed in victory. The synthesiser was still producing the new substance, and he filled a cup and took a sip.
He handed the cup to Pandora and told her, "Be sure the Queen gets a dose. Once the ranks are immune, the rest can be divided amongst file."
She nodded, took some for herself, and left with the cup. Once out of sight, she stopped for a moment to wipe away a tear. This host has strong emotions for that one, she thought to herself. She'd have to break that.

[Taneth]

The messenger arrived at the settlement by the gate. The trading outpost had been completely transformed, with weapons pointed at the gate and more stacked in strategic locations. The warehouse had also been surrounded with scaffolding, and parts of a cargo ship were lying nearby. He was too scared to go on. But he had to go on. Something spooked the horse, the inertia throwing him to the ground as the cart created havoc through the settlement. Now or never, he made a break for the stargate, staying out of sight as much as possible, and managed to get it open before anyone could get off a shot. He was struck twice by a blue-energy weapon and fell through the gate. Then it closed. The closest took a few steps forward and sniffed the air. "Human. Let it run."

TAG anyone at all. He didn't die, but he will probably infect anyone who finds him with whatever is afflicting the city below:

===

Asya is locked in her hut, but from the inside. On the outside, the city is rioting. Buildings are burning, people are fighting. It didn't make sense. First, a stranger had attacked her for being a Goa'uld, then more, this is why she locked the door - it wasn't the first time someone had tried to give her a piece of their mind. But all the men were acting far more aggressive than they ought to, and the women were acting strangely as well. By this point, no-one was speaking words anymore, just primordial grunts and growls.

It was the Touched virus. It had to be. That's what they had meant by a disease outbreak, they had unleashed a bioweapon to control the local population. Well, there was no where for Asya to go, and opening that door was suicide, so she decided to bunker down and arm herself. It's times like these she's glad the walls are made of stone.

===

It's late at night, the locals have built a series of campfires out of scraps picked from buildings and equipment that they no longer knew how to use. Two men stood watching at a distance. One of them took out a small device. "So that's it," he said, "now all we have to do is find the one that didn't join them." The screen of the scanner showed a red dot for every life sign within three kilometres, and a white line for every obstacle more than a metre high. There were a few isolated dots, but only one was indoors.

Asya is watching the crowd intently, waiting for the opportunity to steal some food. They seemed to lose interest in her when they realised they couldn't open the door. Suddenly a more sophisticated attempt is made, and the door is finally forced open. She raised her forcefield and glowed her eyes at the two intruders. They glowed back, green, and fired their weapons. The shield held.
"Verta kek!" she shouted, (Green, die!), as she blasted them across the room, breaking a wall down and attracting the attention of the natives. Her head spun around to witness the crowd stand as one. "Mai'tac" (damn). Grabbing what equipment she could, she ran and the hut continued to crumble around the intruders. She didn't bother to watch the fight, as they tried to fend off the angry animals that had once been human, she just ran for the cover of the woods, there to likely be a target for a hunting trip, from either side.

[Taneth]

The two Green-Eyed Goa'ulds who tried to capture Asya stood before Pandora, their heads bowed in shame and injuries showing.
"You idiots. How could you not know she was armed?"
"Well we had intelligence that she was a passive, so..."
"No! If you had intelligence, you would have known that being a Goa'uld, SHE WOULD BE ARMED!" She glowed her eyes at them. "Get out of my sight!" and pointed them to the door. She paced for a few minutes to think, then left, headed for the woods.

There were tall trees, very thick trunks and not much sunlight being let through. The ground was an orange-brown with undergrowth surrounding only the trunks of the taller trees. Pandora met with a search party. "What are you doing?"
"Looking for our fugitive."
"Go home. I've got this."
One of them was about to protest, but didn't. They just left.
She continued in the direction they were headed earlier, and slowed when she sensed the other presence. "I know you're out there, Red. I can smell your naquedah."
dididiZmmmmm
She dodged a blast that came from a Zat'nk'atel high in a tree, and ducked behind a nearby trunk for cover.
"GO AWAY!"
Peaking around to find the source of the weapon's fire, she let off three shots of her own Zat'Cree
v-v-vffffff
"AAAAH!" one hit.
"I'd come down from there if I were you," Pandora called, "We don't have a sarcophagus."
dididiZmmmmm-dididiZmmmmm
"And I'm guessing you've had that weapon since the day you took a host. How long has it been? When was the last time you changed the power cell?"
"I don't use it that often"
"I can tell; you have terrible aim!"
Another round of fire.
dididiZmmmmm-dididiZmmmmmssssshh-dididiZmmmmm
Pandora's tree vanished, and she dodged the third shot running for another one. Looking around again, and she could barely make out a figure hiding in the tree, looking in the wrong direction. "I'm the only one here, Red. I'm taking you alive, whether you come consciously or not is up to you."
v-v-v-v-vffffff "AAIIIIII!" THUD.
Two of the five bolts of blue energy hit their target and Asya fell out of the tree.
Pandora approached slowly in case she was still armed. She wasn't. The weapon had landed several metres away, and Asya's leg was broken. She was still prepared to fire.
"Don't! Please." She was able to reach for her bag of supplies, and slowly pulled out a healing device.
Pandora lowered her weapon and waited as she healed herself, silently fascinated by the Red's ability to operate the device without attaching a separate power source. She recovered the Zat'nk'atel, and pointed her weapon back at the prisoner. "That's enough, move. That way."
Asya looked frustrated. The bone wasn't fully repaired, but Pandora didn't care. She limped along toward the stargate, followed closely by her green-eyed captor.

OOC: Oh well. Looks like you have someone to rescue now.

[Taneth]

OOC: I have another chapter! I'll post it in bits again, in case I want to change anything along the way. Of course, if anyone's not busy, I could use some help with the dialogue.

Asya stood in the main hall with her hands cuffed in front of her, attached to a chain being held by Pandora. There were other guards present, too, so attempting escape was not a good idea. But neither was remaining here. "Why would you bring me all the way here if you're just going to execute me?"
Pandora smiled. "I'm not going to kill you, red. My lord wishes to talk with you."
"My name is Asya. I have no information of value to you. You should know that, your host knew me."
"Of what you are capable is no concern of mine. As for your lies... we have ways of extracting the truth."
"Listen to yourself. Fight it, Jani. Think of home, remember we used to play together as children..."
"Stop it!" Pandora snapped.
That reaction was it. Asya suddenly regained her confidence, and her voice. "Oooh, what's this? Hit a nerve, did I? Maybe all those years in a fish tank has weakened the mind of this snake. The Human host might break out at any..."
"SILENCE!" Pandora shouted, her eyes glowing angrily, dropped the chain and reached for the pain stick at her side. Just then, the door started rumbling open. "On your knees," she growled, giving the prisoner a jab with the device.
Asya fell painfully to her knees as the leader strode in, placed a small box on a nearby pedestal and crossed his arms. She refused to look at him until, with a sideways glance, recognition struck. "Dorius?" But he was different. His eyes had changed colour. "What have you done with him?"

[Taneth]

The leader smiled. "Your friend is alive and well, for the time being. In fact, he's been helping me..." he retrieved a syringe from the box "... to study that rather virulent symbiote poison."
Asya's eyes widened at the thought of what might be in that syringe.
But the leader continued, "I have to give credit to you reds. You certainly have found... creative... methods of killing each other," waving it around in the air as he spoke. He stepped forward a bit. "Now. You'll have to forgive me, my people have been in seclusion for a very long time, but just which Goa'ulds are in power at this moment?"
"I - I don't know," Asya stammered, reverting back to that weak Human voice. "I've been hiding from the Tau'ri, and the rebels, and..."
"Hiding? How pathetic. Gods shouldn't need to hide, isn't that right?"
"I never had that kind of power, I was just..."
"Just a servant of a minor Goa'uld living under the protection of a System Lord, yes. A coward, like your friend, Dorius is it? I call him my pet. Always trying to run away from trouble. And since when were the Tau'ri distinguished from the rest of the rebels?"
Asya remained silent. With a nod, Pandora held her still while the leader pressed the needle into her neck. She still remained silent, hoping for a quick death, but knowing the effects of the poison, braced herself. As the plunger moved, she felt a tingling sensation and then...
Commercial break.

[Taneth]

Asya blinked, and looked around as the needle was removed and Pandora stepped back again.
"You had your chance. Suicide is no longer an option, now tell me what I wish to know."
Asya tried, but was unable to kill her host. The symbiote was paralysed and its toxin wasn't working.
"H-how..."
"Answer the question!"
"Their technology. They've conquered their own world and have been killing off the System Lords. They started the Jaffa rebellion that's been gaining strength ever since. You won't be able to stop them. No-one believes we are gods anymore."
The leader laughed at this confession, "Now do you see how stupid that claim was? As I recall, Anubis warned you in the beginning this would happen. Instead you expelled him."
"Anubis was banished because of his crimes against the Goa'uld, not for his political opinions!"
"He was banished when they found out he was a Green. Now. Which worlds have the Tau'ri liberated?"
"I don't know."
"Which System Lords have they killed?"
"I... Ra. Apophis, Heru'er, Kronos, Baal... AAAAH!" her face glowed green from the pain stick.
"You lie! Baal was killed by my own hand!"
"No! No, there was more than one, he cloned himself."
"How many are there?"
"I don't know!"
"How many System Lords have been killed?"
"I don't know!"
The leader took a moment to consider this information. The prisoner was quite distressed, and he could see that she was telling the truth. He paced for a moment, then replaced the needle into the box, closing it and snapping it shut. "This one is useless. Kill it," he said to Pandora, as he turned to leave.

[Taneth]

Pandora took aim with her Zat'Cree, but Asya protested "Wait, you said you wouldn't!"
The leader stopped in his tracks, and turned. Pandora withdrew the weapon. "That's true."
"Very well," he turned to one of the guards, "you kill her."
"Pandora?" Asya looked at her, pleading.
"Bye." Pandora smiled, then watched as the Red-Eyed Goa'uld was shot with bolt after bolt of Zat energy.
By the time the leader had reached the doorway, she had been hit seven times. "Stop," he said. "I have a better idea. Lock her up." Then left, as the remaining Goa'ulds started dragging the barely-living Red out of the hall to be dumped into a holding cell.

As the leader rummaged through the storage room for a device used by his enemies in the past, he was joined by his apprentice. "I'm pleased with your success, Pandora, but you made a mistake."
She bowed her head. "I apologise. I don't know why I told her that."
"But you do. Yes you do. That is not the issue. You had to be told to keep your word."
"You gave me an order, sir, I can't just..."
"You should have told me. No matter. No harm was done, and you're still learning."
Pandora relaxed. "Thank you, sir. May I ask what you are looking for?"
"The bracelet" was all he said.
Pandora moved some other equipment, a crate of gold and gems, crystals... a pair of Kor Mak bracelets. These were often used for linking a prisoner to a guard, so that in the event of an escape they would both die. Pandora's host continued to plague her mind, ranting of conspiracies and alterior motives, sowing doubt and confusion. She began to picture her master ordering her to use the bracelet on herself, but pushed that thought aside. "Here."
"Ahh, excellant." He took the devices. "Come with me."

[Taneth]

In one of the labs, the pair worked on joining the two bracelets together. This was difficult, because the alloy used was meant to prevent cutting, let alone welding. The power source was replaced, and the active component changed for something a little less lethal. The control system was also altered. In the end, it was quite a different item altogether.
During that time, Asya slowly recovered. A few more hits would certainly have been the end of her. She surveyed her surroundings. She wasn't dead. She was in a cell. On the other side of the bars was a symbiote tank, its lone occupant looking out with its glowing eyes. Glowing RED eyes. It was Dorius. Had to be. But there was nothing either of them could do to help each other. She considered her only other way out, but the drug they had given her earlier was still in effect. There was also a large glass jar of what looked like sand beside the tank. By the time the Green leader arrived, she was huddled in the corner.
He gave a light chuckle. "My, how the tables have turned. Back in the old days it was me, looking out at the reds with anger and resentment. Now look at you, wimpering in Fear."
"If it's revenge you want, just do it. I'm not going to stop you."
"I know. Because you're a 'passive', you have no army to fight in your name, no hope of rescue... But that's not why you're here. I've decided to spare your life, for now." He threw the newly constructed metal device into the cell through the bars. "As long as you put that collar on."
Asya picked it up, and bent it slightly along the hinge. "no..." she looked up and glowed her eyes at him "No, I will not become your slave!" she shouted, throwing the collar away.
He turned away and picked up the jar. "You already are. And your refusal to cooperate will have consequences," then he placed the jar into the water. A slow but steady stream of bubbles rose to the surface as it slowly filled.
"What is that?"
The leader looked her in the eye. "Salt."

[Taneth]

The symbiote shrieked and tried to plug the hole, but was unable.
"Up to you, you want to get out of that cell or watch your friend suffer? Personally, I'd prefer the latter."
She glanced back and forth between the tank and the evil Goa'uld before her. "You're a monster. Why, why would you do that?"
"Tick tock, red. As soon as that jar fills, the salty water is going to start pouring out."
Deciding that she wouldn't die a coward, but somehow manage to rescue Dorius, she finally stood and retrieved the collar. After one more look at the symbiote in the tank, she snapped the device around her neck. "AAAAAAAAH!" almost immediately, she fell to her knees as the leader had taken that moment to test the device, and orange light erupted from her face.
"Oh! I didn't change the colour. Oh well." He took the jar out of the water and placed it on the table again. He then opened the cell door, while Asya gasped and tugged at the collar. It wouldn't budge. "You are now Ashrak. The device can be activated remotely from anywhere in the galaxy, and you will be monitored, so don't bother trying to escape. Any attempt to communicate our secrets will be punished."
She stood back up to face him.
"You have three hours to find the territory of a system lord, gather all the information you can - maps, garrison, back doors - and return to your home planet. You will need these -" he handed her a small box with coloured contact lenses "- to prevent being shot upon your return. Fail to return -" he glanced back at the other symbiote "- and there will be consequences. Is that understood?"
"yes." Asya replied, but prompted by a pair of glowing green eyes, continued "... master".
The journey to the stargate was long and tense. Asya was well aware that everyone she passed was staring and silently cursing as a red was released into the wild. In a manner of speaking.

[Taneth]

Pandora was leaving just as she arrived, and stopped short of the event horizon. "Don't forget, the Pharaoh is watching you." She made a button-push gesture in the air. "haHaHAHah-" and stepped into the blue. The gate shut off shortly after.
Asya hadn't thought to look at the address, but could make a good guess. The planet she dialled was the place the messenger was headed. Surely, she could find help there while appearing to complete her assignment.
As the gate closed, Asya stared in awe at the sight that befell her. Destruction, as far as the eye could see. Were they attacked? No, any signs of weapons were crude at best. It was the grunt, in the distance, that got her attention. Then more. Humans, but behaving like animals. "Oh no!" It's spreading. Hurrying to the dialling device as they reacted to the intruder, she tried to remember a relatively small outpost. But whose? Camulus. Yes, set them after an old rival, that way if she gets captured again it won't be a betrayal.
Once on the other side, she was relieved to find the gate unguarded. It wasn't a long walk to the fort, but she was still out of sight. Given that they sent her out there unarmed, she decided covert infiltration would be the best way in. While a good idea, it would be difficult, as she had none of the elaborate attire generally worn by the gods, nor any markings of the Jaffa. In fact, other than the probability that they would sense her symbiote, she appeared to be just an ordinary human. One who had barely eaten and not bathed in days. She tried the collar again. There was no join, in fact she could fit her fingers in the gap where the two ends came together, it was just rock solid.
So, human it is, then.

[Taneth]

Asya approached the doors to the fort. There was strangely no guard, 'not much of a garrison' she thought. With just over two hours to return with something worthy of... him... she tried not to think about the consequences of being late. Or early. She circled the entire building, then entered through the back door. Nothing. The place was deserted. She breathed a sigh of relief, and tried to find the commander's quarters. If the Goa'uld who once lived here had left behind a ribbon device...
Success! After a bit of searching, she found the storage chamber where the hand devices were kept. And also a Hara'kesh. Easily concieled and might just give her a fighting chance at some point. But she quickly came to regret that decision, for the moment she reached for the tiny weapon, the collar activated and she was screaming on the floor. After a few seconds, it stopped. She remained on the floor for a while, looking up at the chamber longingly. She stood again, and kept staring at the Hara'kesh. So close, yet so far. She could literally just reach out and grab it...

[Taneth]

Not willing to risk another shock, Asya closed the chamber and moved on. If there was anyone in this building who didn't know she was there before, they do now. She began searching for a control room, and eventually found an interface to the main computer and downloaded detailed maps onto a crystal. It covered everything this Goa'uld knew about the state of the empire before the fortress fell. 'This should be enough to appease the Pharaoh,' she thought, then made her way back to the stargate.
She opened the box that she had been given on her way out. Green contact lenses. 'To avoid being shot.' Very funny. They actually obscured her vision quite a bit, and she had to leave one out in order to dial the stargate. 'This is getting worse all the time,' she thought as she stepped through the puddle. Now back at her home planet, Asya was once again not allowed to see the address to the main base - not that she'd be able to make out the symbols anyway - and met the leader on the other side.
He was pleased to receive the crystal, but he was frowning. "Well, I'm disappointed you managed to bring back this much data; it denies me a perfect opportunity I would have had to torture you. Return to your cell whilst I examine this." He found amusement in the fact that she had to find her own way back to the cell block, rather than be led there under guard.
When she got there, Asya was faced with another dilemma. Inside the cell was a plate; they had finally decided to give her food and she was starving. Outside was the possibility of escape, and the tank that held... where was the other symbiote? She looked again at the plate of food, then the door. The door would likely close as soon as she stepped in. Finally remembering to take off the contact lenses, she gasped in horror as she saw what was on the plate.

OOC: I like cliffhangers. Can you tell?

[Taneth]

It was an eel, chopped up, with blue dye on it and no head. But Asya's imagination had done its job, and what she saw was Dorius. She ran in, acting on impulse, to cradle the remains of the animal. She jumped at the thud of the door closing, and burst into tears. She was so hungry... shakily, she raised a piece of the fish and hesitated before taking a bite. Air, that had been injected into the meat, made it squeak. It took a while before she realised it was just another psychological trick, and she was almost finished when she heard a voice from down the hall.
"I hope you're enjoying your dinner. hahahahaha. Your friend has a new home now."
Asya stood and angrily faced her captor. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Where is he?"
"Away. Secure. And just as alive as you are obediant. Keep that in mind. You were not given a weapon on your way out, so it stands to reason you were not permitted to have one at all. Try that again, and you will recieve more than a mild shock."
"A 'mild shock', that's what you call that?"
"It was less than half the setting you 'gods' used on the humans. You should be grateful you were shown mercy this time. And what happened to your voice? I liked the other one better."
She leaned as close to him as the bars would allow "You wish to believe that I'm human. Does it make it easier for you?"
The leader triggered the collar again, and Asya grabbed the bars to prevent falling. She was grinding her teeth and staring at him in defiance until he released the button.
"I'm more than willing to show you who's boss, red." He opened the door and she stepped back, still catching her breath. It was then she noticed he was holding another needle.

[Taneth]

"You don't need that. I'm not..."
"Yes, I know, you're holding out hope that you can still take me down and rescue your friends. And Yes, I know about Pandora. She will be dealt with in due course. Now. Hold still." He pushed her against the wall and jabbed her neck.
"UH!" This time it burned. "AAAAAH! What are you -" 'my voice!' The needle was removed and he released her. She tried to press the wound, but it was under the collar. "What was that??"
"That will enable you to pass as human for your next assignment. No-one will sense your symbiote, and you will not be able to use neurogenic technology, so don't bother trying. This time."
"Why are you sending me out there unarmed? An Ashrak is supposed to kill people!"
"You haven't earned that privilege yet. However, you will be cloaked." He pinned a small cloaking device to her tunic. It had Nirrti's signature on it. "You have six hours to steal something important from Kali."
"But I..."
"Five hours."
Asya hesitated. She was bordering on exhaustion, but didn't want to lose more valuable time. "... yes sir." Not surprisingly, the cloak didn't activate when she pushed the button. 'They must have this rigged as well' she correctly assumed. Along the way, she realised how dangerous this mission will be. 'Kali hates the Greens. If she catches me...' A blue light on the cloaking device turned on as she neared the stargate, and off again when she stepped away. This was obviously some pre-programmed range to prevent any attempt at roaming the corridors.